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Amazing Carbless Pizza

Cauliflower. Oh I have always dreaded thee. You were not on the same level as peas, but you were pretty close. It’s that smell it has while cooking that turns me off. For the same reason I cannot eat tuna. I just can’t bring myself to trust that something that smells so bad can possibly taste good.

Cauliflower is not the crust of this carbless pizza

I have wanted to give cauliflower a try for some time now. I thought about making that cauliflower pizza crust but I don’t think I could convince the hubby it is actually pizza. But when I came across a recipe for an alternative carbless pizza crust (and another for a creamy, garlicky cauliflower sauce) the flavour wheels in my head started turning. I had to make this pizza, even if it was even less pizza-like than the aforementioned cauliflower crust.

You’ll never guess what the main ingredient is in this amazing carbless pizza crust.

I am always looking for ways to sneak healthier ingredients into our meals. It’s not the hubs I need to trick, it’s me. As the name of this blog suggests, I am a reformed recovering picky eater. While my diet includes much more fruits and vegetables than it ever did, I still find it hard to stomach certain items. Certain textures (think layers of an onion) make me gag and others (those dreaded peas) I just find revolting. Cauliflower falls into that latter category. That smell just puts me off.

The reason to push on? Cauliflower is a nutrition power house and should be consumed regularly. It is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This versatile veg is also said to have cancer-fighting abilities, aid digestion, boost heart health, act as an anti-inflammatory and detoxify the body among other things. So you can understand why I have wanted to give cauliflower the benefit of the doubt.

My first cauliflower attempt was making tortillas. They were terrible. Dry, gritty and just plain strange on the texture scale. I didn’t even bother having hubby sample the tortillas, they were that bad.

But I was determined to create something delicious using this wonderful vegetable. That’s when I came across this Creamy Cauliflower Sauce recipe from Pinch of Yum and knew I had to give it a whirl. It is full of garlicky goodness and is a great compliment to this carbless pizza crust. The recipe is very versatile and can be used on anything from pasta and pizza to veggies and rice. Pinch of Yum has a ton of recipes listed using this sauce which I plan to keep in mind for next time I whip up this yummy concoction that is not only super tasty but healthy at the same time. I added about 1/3 Cup parmesan cheese to the recipe and it was amazing.

Cauliflower does not form the crust of this tasty carbless pizza but it makes up the sauce.

Amazing Carbless Pizza Crust

Now, about that carbless pizza crust. When I first came across this recipe from Sassy Southern Yankee, I wasn’t so sure about it, but I was intrigued. You see, the crust of this pizza is usually more of a topping than a crust.

The main ingredient in this amazing, carbless pizza crust is ground chicken. That’s right, I said ground chicken. Now, hold on a minute, don’t get scared off too easily. I will admit, this is a stretch for pizza but it’s a delicious combination of crispy chicken, creamy, garlicky cauliflower sauce, spinach, cheese and bacon. Yum! The ground chicken is seasoned with spices and mixed with shredded cheese then spread thinly on a parchment-lined pizza pan and baked to a golden brown before being piled up with toppings and baked cheese is gooey and bubbly.

Don’t be scared away by the chicken crust. This pizza is deeply satisfying.

Have I convinced you to try this yet?

It’s more like a cheesy chicken meatloaf meets pizza than it is your traditional pie, but it’s a quick, easy and considerably healthy dish. And, there are plenty of opportunities to sneak in ingredients my picky palate might otherwise reject such as said cauliflower. Top this pizza anyway you like and enjoy a hearty, tasty meal. It’s a lot more filling than regular pizza and tastes just as good the next day for lunch.

Amazing Carbless Carbonara Pizza

1 recipe for carbless pizza crust

1/4-1/2 C creamy cauliflower alfredo

1/2 C shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 C shredded asiago cheese

4 slices bacon, cooked and drained on paper towel

handful of spinach

Prepare carbless pizza crust using directions below. Spread a layer of creamy cauliflower sauce (don’t be shy, this is much more wasitline-friendly than your traditional white sauce) and top with spinach, cheese and bacon. Bake an additional five minutes until cheese is ooey and gooey and browned. Slice, serve and prepare to be amazed by how tasty this carbless carbonara pizza is.

Ground chicken, cheese and spices make up the crust of this carbless pizza.

Carbless Pizza Crust

1 lb organic ground chicken

1/4 C parmesan cheese

1/4 C shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 tsp red chilli flakes

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp dried oregano

Preheat oven to 400.

Mix ingredients together in a bowl until combined. Spread thinly over a parchment lined pizza tray. Bake 20-25 minutes until crust is nicely browned. Flip over and add toppings, bake an additional five minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Don’t skimp out on the creamy cauliflower alfredo, it’s much lighter than the usual kind.

Saute garlic in butter and it is fragrant but not browned. I cooked mine on low while I cooked the cauliflower and prepared the remaining ingredients.

Bring stock to a boil and cook cauliflower about 7-10 minutes. Do not drain, you will use some of the delicious stock to flavour the sauce.

Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cauliflower chunks into your food processor. Add 1 Cup of broth, the garlic butter, salt, pepper and milk and process until it comes together in a smooth sauce. Add several heaping Tablespoons of parmesan cheese (about 1/3 Cup) and spin for a couple more whirls.